Technical Pens and Pencils: The TWSBI Precision Ballpoint and Mechanical Pencil

January 18, 2023

So-called “drafting” pens and pencils are sometimes considered a category unto themselves, or as a subset of the slightly broader “technical” pen and pencil category. Long-dominated by the beloved (and excellent) Rotring 600 and 800, many companies have shied away from introducing their own version of this classic piece of stationery kit, despite it’s enduring popularity. Not TWSBI, who over the years has introduced four different mechanical pencils, two ballpoint pens, and a technical-style fountain pen through their “Precision” line of products. Today I’ll take a look at the Precision mechanical pencil and ballpoint.

TWSBI Precision Mechanical Pencil Black Fixed and Retractable — The Precision Mechanical Pencil comes in both fixed and retractable-pipe versions.

So What Distinguishes the TWSBI Precision Line of Pens?

If you (like me) already own multiple Rotring 600 and Rotring 800 pens and mechanical pencils, what differentiates the TWSBI Precision to the point that you might want to give this particular pen and/or pencil a shot? Here are my main points to consider:

Different Knurling on the Grip. The primary difference I would highlight is the knurling (or grip texture), because this aspect will likely affect your everyday writing the most. Rotring uses a rougher, almost sandpaper-like texture that people either love or dislike depending on whether it hurts their fingers. Personally, I’m a big fan of the Rotring grip, which I think gives the pen a tactile writing experience that’s not duplicated elsewhere, but I also enjoy TWSBI’s approach. The Precision grip appears to be molded into the barrel as opposed to machined, so the knurling is slightly more raised and can have a softer feel. It all comes down to personal preference.
Slightly Softer Edges on the Hexagonal Barrel. I’ve never noticed it until this direct comparison, but the edges on the Rotring pens are pretty sharp. The TWSBI Precision is more rounded, akin to the Caran d’Ache 849, though I would place the Precision “in the middle” between the other two.
Different Aesthetics. Rotring famously adheres to a black/silver + red color scheme, and though they’ve moved away from that in recent years with a few new base colors, the overall aesthetic remains consistent. I would characterize the finish on the TWSBI Precision as more “satin” as opposed to Rotring’s true “matte”, and the TWSBI’s chrome clip, knock, and tip look nice on either the black or silver pen/pencil.
Different Mechanism on the Retractable Pipe Mechanical Pencil. I previously reviewed the Rotring 800, and I love how that pen features a twist mechanism on the knock that allows you to retract the sleeve / “pipe” for pocket carry. The TWSBI Precision has a similar feature, though you need to depress the knock and press down gently to get the pipe to retract. It’s less convenient, but it’s also a less expensive pencil.

The knurling on the TWSBI Precision (top) and the Rotring 600 (bottom) is very different. One is not better than the other - they just have a completely different feel. Note that the tip on the TWSBI Precision ballpoint extends slightly farther than on the Rotring 600. Personally, I like this because I enjoy more needle-tip pens that feel as though they provide more control over my writing. Others prefer how the Rotring looks.
See the gallery below for a comparison between the Rotring 800 retractable mechanical pencil and the TWSBI precision mechanical pencil, both retracted (right) and extended (left).

General Functionality and Writing Experience

Overall, the Precision provides a very nice writing experience for the price point. The Precision pens and pencils are approximately the same weight and length as the Rotring 600, and slightly shorter/slimmer than the Rotring 800. Due to the different texture, the feel in the hand is more akin to the Caran d’Ache 849, and those who appreciate the 849 line of writing instruments but find themselves wanting a more textured grip section and slightly longer barrel should consider the TWSBI Precision.

While the pens discussed here all share certain design elements, they have their own unique feel in hand and will appeal to different users in terms of both aesthetics and functionality.

Though not a game changer, I wanted to point out that TWSBI adds value by including a pack of leads and replacement erasers with the Precision mechanical pencil, and a second Parker-style ballpoint cartridge with the ballpoint pen. The erasers are a cool touch - they’re super long, do their job well, and should last you for a while. The TWSBI-branded ballpoint refill is quite nice, but if you prefer something else it’s Parker-style so you can swap in your choice of the endless Parker-style ballpoint/gel/capless roller refills out there.

I love the long eraser on the TWSBI Precision. Plus you get three of them, likely enough to last you years unless you really enjoy your mechanical pencil erasers.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

To be perfectly honest, now that I’ve been using my own Precision ballpoint and Precision .5mm retractable mechanical pencil for a couple of months now, I’m kicking myself for having waited this long. In my opinion, TWSBI doesn’t do a great job of promoting their non-fountain pen product line, and even though many people have commented about how nice their mechanical pencils are, it’s one of those products that I put off trying and reviewing for years. I’m now wondering whether it’s time to pick up a Precision fountain pen.

Three different pens/pencils, three great options: the Rotring 600 (top), the TWSBI Precision (center), and the Caran d’Ache 849.

We recently added the TWSBI Precision line to the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and currently stock both the Precision Ballpoint and Precision Mechanical Pencil in all colors and subtypes. As noted above, the mechanical pencil is available with both .5mm and .7mm lead sizes, with a fixed or retractable pipe. Both Precision Ballpoint Pens and Mechanical Pencils are priced at $25, which I personally consider a very fair value.

Disclaimer: The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of TWSBI products, including the Precision pens featured in this review. This post does not contain third-party advertising and affiliate links, and we are supported entirely by shop purchases and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

New-to-Me Pen Brand: Ranga Fountain Pens

January 7, 2023

As the years go by, it gets harder to write truly fresh review content because, eventually, you get to a point where you’ve reviewed most major pen brands and you learn that much of what is released into the market is either duplicative of something else a company has already released (i.e., a “limited edition” that’s simply a different color) and/or that even most “new” designs are derivative of others. Having done this for going on nine years, it’s rare that I find an entire brand that I’ve never reviewed, much less tried, but for some reason that’s how it ended up with Ranga.

Premium red woodgrain (sometimes called “rosewood”) ebonite: one of my favorite materials.

Ranga is a family-run Indian manufacturer that has been hand-making pens for more than 50 years, and has sold through various retail outlets in the United States. Currently, their main U.S. retailer is Peyton Street Pens, whom I always visit at the San Francisco Pen Show. Teri and Nivardo have a ton of unique finds at their table, including exclusive designs and custom nib grinds that they offer on their pens. I’ve admired the selection of Ranga ebonite pens before, but never had money left in the budget at the end of the show to take one home. That changed this year, especially since I found myself short of pens to fill a nib grinding appointment with C.Y. of Tokyo Station Pens.

The Ranga Abhimanyu (left) compared against the Ranga Bamboo (right)

Ranga Abhimanyu and Ranga Bamboo

I chose two very different Ranga models to test: the Abhimanyu, which is a smaller streamlined fountain pen with peaked ends somewhat reminiscent of a Nakaya Piccolo but with a more pronounced shape; and the Bamboo, which, as you might have guessed, is shaped like a piece of Bamboo. I opted for premium ebonite on both pens, with the Abhimanyu featuring a black and yellow pattern (which combined looks almost dark green) and the Bamboo a red woodgrain pattern (which I’ve seen described as “rosewood” elsewhere).

The sections on both of these Ranga pens are exceptionally comfortable.

The Abhimanyu and Bamboo fountain pens are distinctive designs, so you can’t really compare them. I personally love both, but one design/shape may appeal to you more than others, and if neither of these does it for you, Ranga has close to a dozen more different shapes and sizes available. I will say that the fit and finish on both pens is exceptionally good for the price point. It’s almost unheard of to find handmade, premium ebonite fountain pens of this quality for $100 or less. As you might expect, the pens are cartridge-converter, but like most ebonite pens they are safe to eyedropper provided that you apply silicone grease to the threads.

I can’t pick a favorite. The Abhimanyu probably lends itself more to everyday writing, since it’s a compact pen that slips easily into a pen case or sleeve, plus it caps and uncaps with two turns, as opposed to the Bamboo which can take a bit of effort due to the longer section. The Abhimanyu also posts, though not deeply and some may find the posted pen unwieldy. The Bamboo makes an excellent desk pen, and I’ve been using it for longer journaling sessions at night and also for longhand drafting when working from home.

The Ranga Bamboo in-hand. This pen does not post. (Technically, it can, but it’s ridiculously long and I can’t imagine anyone can actually use it this way.)

Writing Experience

I would consider Ranga fountain pens “user grade” pens in the best sense: They are exceptionally comfortable for longer writing sessions, mainly due to the length and shape of the section. On both models, the longer section offers plenty of room to grip the pen without running afoul of the threads, and on the Bamboo in particular, the grip area is slightly concave, which I find helps compensate for the weight of the larger body and gives the pen a nice balance. Ranga pens all take standard No. 6 JoWo nib units, so you can use the included nib as shipped, easily have the nib ground, or swap in another JoWo nib unit from a brand such as Franklin-Christoph, which I did here on the Bamboo.

Ranga Abhimanyu posted. The pen is long, but the cap is extremely lightweight so I can use it comfortably as needed.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I’ve become something of an ebonite pen enthusiast over the years, with multiple pieces in my collection ranging from lacquered Nakayas to a custom Shawn Newton Prospector to the Nahvalur Nautilus piston filler. Ebonite has a feel to it that is difficult to duplicate elsewhere, reminiscent of the warmth of vintage celluloid (though much less expensive). Opting for ebonite over the more common acrylic or resin can allow you to purchase a unique looking pen with a premium feel at an exceptional value - both of the Ranga fountain pens shown here cost $100 or less. The Bamboo in premium ebonite sells for $100, while the Abhimanyu in premium ebonite retails for $89. Standard ebonite versions are $80 and $72, respectively, with some acrylics also offered. Suffice to say, both models have impressed me and I won’t hesitate to pick up another Ranga if a pen jumps out at me in San Francisco this year.

Most of my ebonite pen collection, clockwise from top: Peyton Street Pens Custom by Teri, “Navigator by Stacey Robinson, Nahvalur Nautilus in Stylophora Berry; Nahvalur Nautilus Pen Show Edition 2022; Ranga Abhimanyu; Ranga Bamboo; Shawn Newton Prospector in Nikko Ebonite.

Ranga pens can be purchased in the U.S. from Peyton Street Pens, where I acquired the pens pictured in this review. To the extent Peyton Street doesn’t have exactly what you’re looking for, you can also order directly from Ranga in India via their website.

I purchased the pens featured in this review with my own funds. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Learn more about T.G.S. Patreon here, and don’t miss our periodic “Gently Used” sales.

Four fountain pens, clockwise from left: TWSBI Swipe, Majohn C4, PenBBS489, and the Ellington “Stealth”

Four Pens Under $40: New Releases That Won't Break the Bank

December 7, 2022

Regular readers know that in addition to the more expensive stuff, I enjoy dabbling in the midrange and lower end of the pricing spectrum, especially when I discover or am asked to review pens that offer good value at a more accessible price point. After all, it’s these types of pens that got me started on my own fountain pen explorations back when I was in school, and I love having less “precious” writing instruments to carry around with me for work travel, etc. Here are four pens, all currently available for less than $40 (in some cases MUCH less) that I’ve enjoyed getting to use recently.

Majohn C4 Japanese-style eyedropper — If you want an inexpensive way to showcase your shimmer inks in an inexpensive pen, you could do a lot worse than the Majohn C4.

Majohn (f/k/a Moonman) C4 Japanese-Style Eyedropper

Inspired by larger vintage Japanese-style eyedropper pens, all the way down to the smaller clip, the Majohn (rebranded Moonman) C4 fountain pen features a high-capacity eyedropper filling system with a shutoff valve similar to that used in Opus 88 fountain pens. Available from multiple eBay, Amazon, and Etsy sellers and generally priced anywhere from $20-30, the C4 features a decent stainless steel nib (which I’ve not tried to swap out), clear acrylic, and gold trim. The one design critique I have is the mismatch between the “Moonman” branding on the nib and “Majohn” on the pen, as well as the decision to pair an unplated stainless nib with gold-plated trim. That said, this pen is gorgeous to use with shimmer inks, and is an excellent option if you’re considering a more expensive oversized fountain pen such as the Montblanc 149 and want to see how the general size/shape might fit your hand before taking the plunge.

I love PenBBS transparent green acrylics.

PenBBS 489 “Touchdown” Filler

I love PenBBS pens, and how this company always manage to combine attractive design, unique materials, good nibs, and interesting filling systems into a fountain pen that punches far above its weight class, price-wise. The Model 489 incorporates a vintage-style “Touchdown” filler - you extend a metal sleeve from inside the barrel, dip the nib and section into the ink bottle, and “touch down” to fill the pen. The one drawback is that touchdown fillers don’t necessarily hold a lot of ink, since it’s a sac-based filling system, but at $34 it was an insta-buy for me.

Ellington Pens “The Stealth” Fountain Pen

Ellington Pens “The Stealth” Pen

If you’ve spent any amount of time on pen Instagram lately, you’ve likely come across ads or influencer posts for Ellington Pens, a new UK-based brand that uses contract manufacturers in China to produce their pens in order to keep the price point accessible. While there has been a lot of noise (including some valid criticism) surrounding the launch and marketing of these pens - which Figboot addresses at length in his video and I won’t rehash here - I was pleasantly surprised with the pen itself. I’ve had the all-black “Stealth” model inked for three weeks or so, and it’s written consistently without hard starts, even after I’ve let the pen sit for several days. (This is a standard test I run with less expensive fountain pens, as the bad ones have a tendency to hard-start and skip if left idle for as little as a day.) If you enjoy the standard “professional pen” look of the Ellington, you likely won’t be disappointed with the writing experience. UPDATE: I previously had expressed some concern about consistency of the pricing on this pen. Ellington now has the pens priced at $39.95 across all retail platforms, including Amazon.

TWSBI Swipe in Salmon and Ice Blue

I finally got around to opening up a couple of the recent TWSBI Swipe releases, including the “Salmon” and new “Ice Blue” variations. At only $26, I consider the Swipe one of the better “all-in” value propositions out there, since it’s a cartridge-converter pen that ships with two different converters in the box, in addition to a TWSBI cartridge. The Swipe’s main drawback is the clip, which looks sleek but isn’t very substantial, so if you’re looking to carry this pen clipped to a bag or a thicker pen case you may want to consider spending a few more dollars to upgrade to the TWSBI ECO. I’m glad to see TWSBI release this pen in different colors, especially unique shades like the coral-pink “Salmon” that don’t get as much attention in the fountain pen world. Now if we could only get a mustard-color Swipe like that Japan-exclusive ECO they released? I’m pretty sure that would be my “forever” knockaround pen.

TWSBI Swipes in Ice Blue (left) and Salmon (right)

Takeaways

All of the four pens here basically have nothing in common other than the price point. So why review them together? Because I love how doing so showcases the variety that’s available right now for not a lot of money. The pen world - yes, even the fountain pen world - isn’t just a hobby for those with a lot of disposable income. You can find many working fountain pens that write well and still looks interesting at the sub-$40 price point. Sure, you have to control expectations, and depending on how adventurous you are, you’ll probably get some duds, but I’ve always found it fun to discover hidden value.

Disclaimer: I purchased the Majohn and PenBBS pens featured in this review with my own funds for review purposes. The Ellington Pen pictured here was provided to me by Ellington Pens, free of charge. We are authorized retailers of TWSBI pens, including the Swipe.

Three workhorse ballpoints: The Gravitas Twist in Ultem; the Caran d’Ache 849 “Rollerball”, and the Caran d’Ache Infinite 888.

Ranking My Favorite Ballpoint Refills in 2022

November 12, 2022

Continuing my personal celebration of the ballpoint pen this week, I thought it might be fun to do something that I haven't done in a while: rank my favorite ballpoint refills. Despite what people may think, there’s actually quite a bit of variation between the different writing experiences available. Refills vary in terms of darkness, smoothness, and line width, though you’ll admittedly have a hard time finding the same range of bright colors as you can with gel pens. As my ballpoint usage has increased heavily in recent years, I’ve discovered some new favorite refills that I’d like to bring to the attention of ballpoint fans, especially those workhorse cartridges that don’t receive nearly the amount of attention they deserve.

Schmidt P900. At this year’s Washington D.C. Pen Show, I picked up one of the Gravitas “Twist” ballpoints in Ultem (which unfortunately does not appear to be available except in the standard clear polycarbonate finish). While most ballpoints that accept a Parker-style cartridge tend to ship with the Schmidt Easyflow 9000 (discussed further below), Ben Walsh includes the Schmidt P900F, which writes a finer, less “gloppy” line than the Easyflow. Sure, the latter is a smooth writer, but I prefer more precision. Lanier Pens on Amazon sells a four pack containing different colors in the F (.6mm) tip size, which costs just under $9. In addition to the Gravitas ballpoint, I now have these in all of my Baron Fig Squire pens.
Uniball Jetstream SXR-600. My second favorite refill, especially when I want to write small, is the Uniball Jetstream Parker-style cartridge in the .5mm tip size. (While it also comes in .38mm and .7mm sizes, the .5mm hits the sweet spot for me.) This particular refill lives in my Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball. Though an excellent writer, the downside is that the cartridge can be pricey, ranging from $5 - $ 8.50 apiece depending on where you buy them. A similar writing experience can be found in the Jetstream D1 refills, as well as the white-labeled D1 refills used in the Penco “Perfection” series of pocket ballpoint pens.
Caran d’Ache Infinite 888 “Swissglide”. For longer writing sessions, you can’t beat Caran d’Ache’s “Swissglide” refill, which is sold only in the Caran d’Ache Infinite 888 pen. True to its name, the Swissglide writes a darker, smoother line than Caran d’Ache’s signature “Goliath” cartridge, and it’s almost as long lasting. Though the refill is proprietary to this particular pen, the Infinite ballpoint costs a mere $6.25, and additional refills only $3.
Ohto Needle-Tip (Mark’style Tous les Jours and Traveler’s Brass Ballpoint). I’ve written before on how I love needle-tip ballpoint pens for working in my planners, and for making tiny marginalia and annotation when I’m reading. The Japanese Ohto refills (which I know are used in the Mark’style pens and which I suspect are used in the Traveler’s Pens) are among my favorites, behaving similarly to Jetstream ink yet offering even more precision for writing and drawing due to the needle-tip. These refills are also incredibly inexpensive and long-lasting.
Caran d’Ache “Goliath” (i.e., the proprietary Caran d’Ache 849 Refill). If you’re looking for a rock-solid ballpoint that lays down a medium wet, moderately dark line and can go for years without drying out, the Caran d’Ache “Goliath” is an excellent choice. While on the expensive side, they are durable, don’t dry out easily, and therefore tend to last for an extremely long time. Plus you get the comfortable hexagonal writing experience of the iconic Caran d’Ache 849 ballpoint.

Writing samples from all five pens listed here, including four colors of the Schmidt P900F.

Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Of the five refills discussed in today’s post, the “new discoveries” that I’ve enjoyed using the most are the P900F and the Swissglide. Both are inexpensive workhorses that should tempt even the most die-hard gel or rollerball fan, namely because they require much less pressure to write than your typical ballpoint.

Though maybe a touch dry for pages of longhand writing, for annotating books and taking notes on thin journal/planner paper, it’s hard to beat a needle-tip pen.

Another encouraging trend that has emerged over the past few years has been better Parker-style ballpoint options. Pens such as the Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball (which can transform into a “big 849 ballpoint”) and the Gravitas Twist both use this type of refill, as do many other kit pens and more generic ballpoints that people receive as gifts. The Schmidt P900 and Jetstream SXR-600 have not only allowed me to pull my “gift” pens - many of which have sentimental value - back into my regular rotation, but I’ve also converted many of my rollerballs because liquid ink rollerballs are among my least favorite writing options as they tend to bleed through everything.

The Schmidt Easyflow 9000 is a long-time favorite for many looking for a rollerball-like dark line, but in exchange for darkness you get smearing and a fair bit of “tip crud”.

Finally, why is the Schmidt Easyflow 9000 not on the list? Isn’t it the “best rollerball replacement option”? Not anymore, at least not to me. I personally find the Easyflow too oily, and it tends to gum up around the tip and leave streaks on the page. I consider both the P900F and the Jetstream to be superior options for pens that take Parker-style refills, but those who value “smoothness” above all else may still want to consider the Easyflow.

How about you? Is there a ballpoint refill option that I should be considering that doesn’t appear on this page? I’m interested, so leave a comment!

While this post does contain links to Amazon and other third parties, there are no paid affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported exclusively through purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Unfortunately, these Traveler’s Company ballpoints in the exclusive colors were exclusive pre-orders from the San Francisco Pen Show. If they sold well, hopefully they may be coming to the standard lineup?

My Annual Paen for the Ballpoint Pen

November 9, 2022

Now that we’re all fully saturated with fountain pen purchases and fountain pen-related content after last week’s Fountain Pen Day celebration, why don’t we talk about something a bit different? I often get asked, “If you’re not writing with a fountain pen, then what are you using?” The answer is that it’s almost always either a ballpoint pen or a pencil, with ballpoints stealing an increased role from the gel pens and rollerballs in my collection. Today I’ll discuss five reasons why I enjoy ballpoint pens, particularly for work-related writing and annotation.

Ballpoints are true “write anywhere” pens. If you need to get work done, and you don’t want to worry about the kind of paper you’re using, the ballpoint gives you the most versatility. For many, office copy paper is tissue-thin (like mine), and sometimes you’ll want to annotate something like a shiny-sheet magazine article or professional journal. Ballpoint is pretty much your only option.
Ballpoint ink dries quickly and offers permanence. Taking a lot of notes on documents where you need to flip through pages, and don’t want to worry about your fountain pen ink smearing? Not only does ballpoint ink dry near-instantaneously, but it’s also waterproof, which is why many in the medical and legal professions are actually required to use ballpoint pens on a daily basis in certain contexts.
Needle-tip ballpoint pens are excellent for annotation. I would say that half of the ballpoints I currently have in rotation are Japanese needle-tip ballpoints that I use to write in my Plotters (particularly the Mini-5 model), and to take notes in books that I’m reading. My number one recommendation for this category has always been the Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint and the arrival of my pen show special editions, pictured above, is actually what prompted this post. Smaller pens such as the Traveler’s ballpoint and the Penco Perfection series clip easily to a pocket notebook or paperback, allowing for portability and ease of deployment, but if you prefer something larger, consider any of the pens that use the Ohto needle-tip ballpoint refill, such as the Mark’style “Tous les Jours.”
Refills can last for years, and are relatively inexpensive. Though more expensive on a per-cartridge basis than fountain pen ink cartridges, ballpoint refills last much, much longer. (They similarly last much longer than liquid-ink rollerball refills, which I consider to be among the worst value propositions.) I currently have ballpoint pen cartridges that have been in use for years, with the “Goliath” cartridge in the workhorse Caran d’Ache 849 leading the way, and needle-tip pens using so little ink to the point that the refill in my first Traveler’s Ballpoint is still halfway full despite three years of use.
Ballpoint pens are largely distraction free. I say “largely” only because many ballpoints are click-pens, and the knock can serve as a fidget device both annoying and fascinating, but a ballpoint often allows me to focus on highly technical work or writing more than a fountain pen. Despite best intentions, it’s easy to find yourself more focused on the nib, ink, finish, etc. of a fountain pen than on the writing you’re actually doing. With a ballpoint, there just aren’t as many variables.

For all of these reasons and more, if someone asks me for a “nice pen recommendation” for a person who’s NOT already a known fountain pen user, that recommendation will almost always include one or more ballpoint options. As we enter the holiday gift season, it’s especially important to pay close attention to the needs of the person you’re buying for - while many of us love our fountain pens, they aren’t for everyone, and a nice ballpoint could be the best option for them. Stay tuned for more recommendations and discussion in the full holiday gift guide, coming later this month.

Ballpoint pens I’ve used over the past week, from left: The Caran d’Ache 849 (first two); Rotring 600 ballpoint, old Levenger edition; Studio Neat Mark One (with Schmidt Easyflow ballpoint refill); Bic Cristal; Caran d’Ache “Infinite” ballpoint, which I actually consider one of the biggest steals on the market right now; the Lamy 2000 ballpoint, and my two new Traveler’s pens.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by sales through the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon program. If you’re interested in shopping for a quality ballpoint pen for yourself or a gift recipient, we’d appreciate your support!